Sectionalism, Slavery and the Civil War (1861-1865)

What is the difference between nationalism and sectionalism?

Nationalism – a feeling of pride, loyalty, and protectiveness toward your country. Loyalty to one’s nation as a whole.

Sectionalism – the loyalty to the interest of your own region or section of the country, rather than to the nation as a whole.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NORTH Political It supported high tariffs to protect manufacturing. It supported federally funded internal improvements like canals, roads, and railroads so they could have transportation to their markets. In the 1840’s and 1850’s they began to oppose slavery.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NORTH Economic Agriculture was diversified (wheat, corn, dairy). It was more scientific and Northerners developed more farm machines that the South did. Fishing and whaling were still important to the Northeast. Manufacturing It replaced shipping as the main business of the Northeast.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NORTH Economy (Transportation of goods) The transportation system was designed to get goods to the ocean. The main transportation in the South was rivers, streams, and intercoastal routes.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NORTH Social Immigration served as one of the major social issues in the North. This immigration tended to create low wages and encouraged child labor. Women’s Suffrage and Abolition of slavery were other social reforms the North was focused on. Abolitionists believed that slavery was morally wrong.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SOUTH Political Protecting slavery was of the utmost importance to Southerners. Fighting tariffs was paramount to Southerners since tariffs increased the price of goods imported from Europe. Southerners were against internal improvements because it cost money and it did not meet their transportation needs.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SOUTH Economic Home of the “cotton kingdom”—Cotton replaced linen and wool as the major fiber for cloth. Tobacco still was the major crop in the Upper South. Rice and sugar were still important crops in South Carolina and Louisiana.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SOUTH Economy (Transportation of goods) The transportation system was designed to get goods to the ocean. The main transportation in the South was rivers, streams, and intercoastal routes.

Slavery was an important part of the Southern economy Slavery was an important part of the Southern economy. The feeling was that slavery must follow expansion. The South was agriculturally self-sufficient. It provided its own corn, wheat, and livestock. There was little manufacturing in the South. The economy was still tied to Great Britain.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SOUTH Social - Slavery served as one of the largest social issues of the

Middle class farmers and lower class farmers supported slavery even though few had twenty slaves or more. They hoped to have slaves themselves. They were afraid of slave rebellion and competition from free blacks.

Pre Civil War Compromises 3/5th Compromise “Missouri” Compromise of 1820 Compromise of 1850

Missouri Compromise (1820) In 1819, the Union consisted of 11 free and 11 slave states. Admitting any new state would upset the balance in the Senate. Missouri wanted to enter union as a slave state Maine wanted to enter as a free state (24th state) * Missouri Compromise was crafted by John C. Calhoun and Henry Clay. DECISION: Region south of 36º 30’ Latitude would be open to slavery

Missouri Compromise Southern Point of View Missouri crisis reawakened old fears that the North’s point of view represented a critical threat to slavery Northern Point of View Realized that the issue of slavery was becoming more and more of a conflict.

Nullification Crisis Rift between the North and the South grew worse in the 1820’s and early 1830’s. Another main source of conflict was the tariff. A tariff is a tax on imported goods. South Carolina’s economy suffered during this period as its residents paid higher prices for tools, utensils and other manufactured goods due to the tariff. When Congress levied a new tariff in 1828, angry southerners called it the Tariff of Abominations and many South Carolinians threatened to secede, or withdraw from the union.

The Nullification Crisis John C. Calhoun, the Vice President, who was from South Carolina argued that because the states had created the federal union, they had the right to declare a federal law null, or not valid. This was known as nullification. Published The South Carolina Exposition and Protest

Nullification Crisis The crisis grew worse in 1932 when Congress passed another tariff law. More South Carolinians called for secession. President Jackson sent a warship to Charleston, S.C. Senator Henry Clay diffused the crisis by a compromise bill which lower the tariff for ten years.

The Abolitionist Movement The abolitionist movement, calling for the abolition, or the immediate end of slavery, increased tension between the North and South in the 1830s, 1840s, 1850s. William Lloyd Garrison was a major abolitionists

African-American Abolitionists Free African-Americans played a major role in the abolitionist movement. Frederick Douglass: an escaped slave from Maryland. Wrote his autobiography called Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Later became a Minister to Haiti

African American Abolitionists Another important African American abolitionists was Sojourner Truth. Gained her freedom in 1827.

The Underground Railroad The Underground Railroad was an informal, well-organized network of abolitionists who helped thousands of enslaved persons escape to the North.

The Underground Railroad The most famous conductor was Harriet Tubman, a runaway slave.

The Underground Railroad Another prominent abolitionist was the author Harriet Beecher Stowe. In 1851, Stowe began writing a newspaper serial and later book called Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Her novel sold millions of copies: aroused antislavery sentiment in the North against slavery angered many Southerners

War With Mexico and Impact September, 1836: Republic of Texas created February, 1845: Texas Annexed December 1845 Texas enters the USA as a slave state 1846-1848: US and Mexico War February, 1848: Mexico signs the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, surrendering territory that would soon become California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and parts of Colorado

United States Map 1850

Compromise of 1850 There were several points at issue: The United States had recently acquired a vast territory -- the result of its war with Mexico. Should the territory allow slavery, or should it be declared free? Or maybe the people be allowed to choose for themselves (popular sovereignty)? California -- a territory that had grown tremendously with the gold rush of 1849, had recently asked Congress to enter the Union as a free state. Should this be allowed? Ever since the Missouri Compromise, the balance between slave states and free states had been maintained; any proposal that threatened this balance would almost certainly not win approval.

Compromise of 1850 Henry Clay comes back to the Senate from retirement and with Daniel Webster crafts the compromise. Compromise: California admitted to the Union as a free state. “Popular Sovereignty” in Utah and New Mexico are incorporated without restrictions. (the citizens would decide if they wanted to be a slave or a non slave state) Domestic slave trade, but not slavery, prohibited in Washington D. C. Strong Fugitive Slave Law adopted; runaway slaves to be seized and returned to their owners regardless of where they are found.

Compromise of 1850 Southern Point of View Approved of the compromise Warned that a breakdown of the agreement would result in secession Supported the Fugitive Slave Law portion of compromise Northern Point of View Approved of the compromise Maintained their goal to preserve the Union Did not support the Fugitive Slave Law portion of compromise

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) In 1854, Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act to organize new territory called “Nebraska.” The act allowed the territory of Kansas to decide for itself whether it would be free or slave, known as popular sovereignty. Thousands of pro- and anti-slavery supporters flooded the state. Violent clashes soon occurred— “Bleeding Kansas”

The Caning of Charles Sumner (May, 1856) Congressman Preston Brooks of South Carolina attacked Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts with a cane when Sumner spoke out against Southerners responsible for violence in Kansas.

The Dred Scott Decision (1857) Dred Scott was a Missouri slave who had been taken north in free territory for several years. When his slaveholder returned to the south, he sued for his freedom. In Dred Scott v. Sandford, the Supreme Court ruled: African-Americans were not citizens Had no right to sue Congress’s ban on slavery was unconsitutional. Congress could not limit the spread of slavery.

John Brown’s Raid (1859) A radical abolitionist. Planned to lead an insurrection against slaveholders across the South. He and 18 followers attacked a federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia on October 16, 1859. He was captured and executed for treason on December 2, 1859. Regarded as a hero in the North; Southerners saw his attack as proof that Northerners wanted to kill them and end slavery.

The Election of 1860 and Southern Secession Brown’s raid marked a turning point in the South. The Democratic Party split into Northern and Southern factions. A new party made up of anti-slavery groups in the North had organized the Republican Party in 1854. The Republican Party wanted to keep slavery out of the west. The Republican nominated Abraham Lincoln as their candidate for president for the election of 1860. Lincoln won the election; Southern states began to secede shortly after.